Newell School District

SOUTH DAKOTA BOARD OF REGENTS
$500 Scholarship
Ardell Bjugstad Scholarship Program
for Native American High School Seniors
Eligibility Requirements:
 Enrolled member of a federally recognized Indian tribe whose reservation is located in South
Dakota or North Dakota
 Resident of South Dakota or North Dakota
 Demonstrated academic achievement
 High school senior planning to earn a degree in agriculture or natural resources or a related field
To apply, submit all of the following:
 A completed Bjugstad Scholarship application form
 Two letters of recommendation
 An official high school transcript
 Verification of tribal enrollment
Deadline: February 28, 2020
(must be postmarked on or before this date)
Scholarship applications and additional information are available from
your high school Guidance Counselor.
___________________________________________________________________________________________
South Dakota Board of Regents Bjugstad Scholarship ___________________________________________________________________________________________
Background:
The Ardell Bjugstad Scholarship Program for Native American students was established by the family of Ardell Bjugstad of
Rapid City. Bjugstad, who died in 1990, was a range scientist with the U.S. Forest Service for 20 years, an adjunct professor
with South Dakota State University, South Dakota School of Mines & Technology and Oglala Lakota College. He was a
strong advocate for young American Indians working to educate themselves and he also worked closely with Oglala Lakota
College in mentoring Native American students into the U.S. Forest Service.
This scholarship endowment provides support for freshman Native American students who are pursuing studies in
agribusiness, agricultural production, agricultural sciences or a natural resources degree at any postsecondary institution. The
$500 scholarship will be allocated to the institution for distribution to the student in two installments of $250 during the fall
2020 and spring 2021 semesters. The scholarship recipient will be approved at the Board of Regents meeting during the
Spring 2020.
Minimum Qualifications:
To be considered for this award, an applicant must be:
• A high school senior who has demonstrated academic achievement
• An enrolled member of a federally recognized Indian tribe whose reservation is located in South Dakota or North
Dakota
• A resident of South Dakota or North Dakota
• Planning to earn a degree in agriculture or natural resources or a related field
Application Procedure:
To apply for the Ardell Bjugstad Scholarship, students should submit all of the following by February 28, 2020:
• A completed Bjugstad Scholarship application form
• Two letters of recommendation that address the applicant's academic achievement, character and leadership abilities
• An official high school transcript, complete through the junior year, which indicates the applicant's class rank and
cumulative grade point average
• Verification of tribal enrollment
All materials should be mailed to:
South Dakota Board of Regents
Scholarship Committee
306 E. Capitol Avenue, Suite 200
Pierre, South Dakota 57501-2545
Application materials must be postmarked on or before February 28, 2020
_____________________________________________________________________________________________
Bjugstad Scholarship Application _____________________________________________________________________________________________
1. Student's Name ____________________________________________________________________________________________
Last First Middle
2. Home Address _________________________________________________________________________________________
Street Apt. Telephone
City State Zip
3. Email
4. Parent/Guardian_________________________________________________________________________________________
Name Address City, State, Zip
5. High School ______________________________________________________________________________________________
School Name Address City
6. List the names of persons whom you have asked to submit letters of recommendation
____________________________________________ _____________________________________________
7. On a separate page, please type: a) A list of all offices held in school organizations.
b) A list of all school honors received.
8. List cumulative high school GPA and Class Rank: ______________________________________
(An official transcript verifying this information is required.)
9. Postsecondary institution you will attend this fall: _________________________________________________________________
Address/City/State/Zip: ______________________________________________________________________________________
10. Your major area of undergraduate study: ________________________________________________________________________
11. Name of tribe currently enrolled in: ____________________________________________________________________________
(An official verification is required.)
Incomplete applications will not be considered.
I authorize officials of my high school to verify the information submitted with this application and to release this information to the Executive
Director of the South Dakota Board of Regents for distribution to the Regents' Scholarship Committee and the Board of Regents. I authorize
the Board of Regents or its Executive Director to release information from the application materials to the news media should I be awarded
the Bjugstad Scholarship.
Signature of Applicant Date Signature of Parent/Guardian Date
(Required if applicant is less than 18 years of age.)
Mail materials to: South Dakota Board of Regents
Scholarship Committee
306 E. Capitol Avenue, Suite 200
Pierre, SD 57501-2545
Application materials must be postmarked on or before February 28, 2020.